Our view: Still time to be candidate

Although it’s too late to get your name on the April 9 ballot, there’s still time for those who want to get involved with local government to do so.

And in some parts of McHenry County, there are local governments that still need the help of interested citizens.

There are handful of local offices in communities around the area that do not have enough candidates to fill the vacancies. And there are even more races where there are exactly enough candidates to fill the seats that are vacant, meaning voters really don’t have a choice.

Although it’s too late to have your name printed on the ballot, there is time to run as a write-in candidate for those offices. Anyone interested in running as a write-in must register with the McHenry County Clerk’s Office by 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

The filing process is easy: Citizens simply go to the Clerk’s Office in Woodstock and fill out a one-page document. The list of offices without enough candidates includes:

• The Hebron Village Board, where two candidates filed to run for three open seats.

• The McHenry School District 156 board, where three candidates filed for four open school board seats.

• The Riley District 18 school board, where three candidates filed for four open school board seats.

• The Alden-Hebron District 19 school board, where three candidates filed for four open school board seats.

There are more examples.

It has been noted many times before that although local elections generally don’t draw anywhere near as much interest as the race for our country’s president, it’s local government that holds more sway over the day-to-day lives of people.

The quality of local government depends on the people who are elected or appointed to run it. It is not glamorous or high-paying work, but it is an essential service.